Monday, February 10, 2014

Bonus track: Banjos, check. Rap, check. Killer show tonight, check.

Fans of This American Life (catch it on KHSU Fridays and Sundays) may recall the episode "Numbers," in which Ira Glass interviews musician David Soldier about a study determining what people most love and – more interestingly – hate in music:

Soldier: There was quite a diversity in hatred. There were a lot of hated instruments... The bagpipe, the accordion, the harp, the organ, the banjo, the tuba, for instance. We had to make sure that all of those were in there.

Glass: And when it comes to most unwanted vocal styles, you found opera and rap were the two most unwanted vocal styles.

Note the emphasis on "banjo" and "rap." Now think about the fact that Gangstagrass – playing at Hum Brews tonight – has so successfully managed to marry those two musical elements that the band's track, "Long Hard Times to Come" not only serves as the theme song to the critically acclaimed Justified series, but the trio was nominated for an Emmy because it's that fine:

The brilliant Elmore Leonard, upon whose writings Justified is based, was a fan.

And now to the crux of the matter: You can see, hear and otherwise experience Gangstagrass tonight at Humboldt Brews. A mere $10, friends! Doors at 9 p.m.